Lisa Murkowski Swears on "Alaskans Standing Together" Disclosures that "AST" is Not Coordinating with Lisa Murkowski

Published: October 19, 2010

Anchorage, Alaska. October 19, 2010 -- In apparent violation of Federal Election law prohibiting candidates for federal office from coordinating campaign activities with independent expenditure committees, Lisa Murkowski's name appears at the bottom of the multimillion dollar "Super Pac" Alaskans Standing Together's schedule E. The Schedule E is the declaration that the independent committee is not coordinating with a campaign, in this case Alaskans Standing Together.

So, Lisa Murkowski swears that Alaskans Standing Together is not helping Lisa Murkowski?

Alaskans Standing Together is the corporate front-group made up of Alaskan Native Corporations who make billions from federal contracts and set-asides. Recent media reports have detailed Senator Murkowski's official actions in the Senate, including opposing reforms to the program, which benefit the corporations.

"Just like so many politicians from D.C., Lisa says one thing and does another. She has decried the influence of 'outside groups' in this election but has remained silent while native corporations spend millions trying to pay her back. Now, the group's own forms show that not only are they working together, they're doing so illegally," Joe Miller said.

The 'Schedule E' form requires a signature from a person that agrees with the following: Under penalty of perjury I certify that the independent expenditures reported herein were not made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or authorized committee or agent of either, or (if the reporting entity is not a political party committee) any political party committee or its agent.

Obviously, it's hard to affirm that there is no coordination with the campaign when the candidate herself signs the federal disclosure forms.